The series finale of Stargate Atlantis has arrived, and Darren and David talk all about “Enemy At the Gate” in this week’s podcast! This episode had to wear three different hats: the 100th episode, the season finale, and the series finale. Does it satisfy on all fronts?

We also have this week’s news from the Stargate universe to talk about (including some new details on Stargate Universe), and we’ll give you a preview of our upcoming two-part interview with Stargate director Andy Mikita. We’ll also run down the latest new additions to GateWorld. And in the Listener Mail segment, Stargate fans sound off on the Atlantis finale.

(Please follow the link for the complete blog update and to view a NEW behind the scenes video clip from 'Enemy at the Gate' featuring Paul McGillion!)

January 13, 2009: Production Developments, Literary Discussion, and A Debacle of Olympic Proportions

Well, just a quick blog entry today as I’m off to have dinner with author John Scalzi and wouldn’t want to besmirch the image of the polite and prompt Canadian. Suffice it to say that today was an interesting day. We walked through Stage 4, the Destiny standing set, and it’s looking mighty impressive. And big! Over on Stage 5, it was a bittersweet stroll through what was once the SGC control room and briefing room.

Brad [Wright] and Rob [Cooper] put out the revised Air two part opener. Paul [Mullie] has apparently finished his outline. I’m motoring along, hitting the sixteen page mark of the first part of the mid-season two-parter. I’ll be writing from home tomorrow as Brad and Rob are in meetings all day tomorrow as prep begins on Air I, II and III.

New York, NY – January 13, 2009 – SCI FI's hit new series Sanctuary has made history as the most trafficked first season ever for an original scripted series on SCIFI.com. The site delivered an impressive 3.9MM page views, 630,000 uniques, and 2.3MM video streams. Over the course of its first full season, Sanctuary was the #3 most popular directory in video streams and ranked #4 for page views.

On Friday, January 9 at 10 PM, Sanctuary ended its first season delivering 2.0MM viewers. The second half of the two-part season finale "Revelations" delivered a 1.6 Household rating with 900,000 Adults 18-49, 1.13 MM Adults 25-54. This is the best performance for the series since its premiere on October 3, 2008 in total viewers and among Adults 18-49. The second season of Sanctuary will premiere later this year.

The fifth and final season of Stargate Atlantis on SCIFI.com delivered a strong 10.0MM page views, 1.5MM uniques, and 888,000 video streams since its return in July '08. Not only were uniques up +24% versus season 4, but Atlantis also ranked as the #3 most popular directory in page views and the # 7 most popular directory in video streams over the course of its season.

The series finale of Stargate Atlantis on Friday, January 9 entitled "Enemy at the Gate" (9 pm) delivered a 1.5 Household rating with 973,000 Adults 18-49, 1.15 MM Adults 25-54 and 2.02 MM total viewers (P2+).

Sanctuary features the beautiful, enigmatic and always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population — a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans. Along with her new recruit, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), her quirky tech wiz Henry (Ryan Robbins) and her fearless daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), Magnus seeks to protect this threatened phenomena as well as unlock the mysteries behind their existence. The series also stars Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt.

Stargate Atlantis follows the adventures of an intrepid team of military and civilian explorers who travel the distant Pegasus galaxy by means of a Stargate, a portal created long ago by a highly advanced alien civilization called the Ancients. In their never-ending quest to seek out other technologies left behind by the Ancients, the Atlantis team encounters alien cultures – some friend, some foe. The exceptional ensemble cast is led by Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo, David Hewlett, Rachel Luttrell, Jewel Staite and Jason Momoa.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 93 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

SCI FI Channel is letting viewers know that the Jan. 16 return of Battlestar Galactica at 10 p.m. will run 3 1/2 minutes long, so make sure to plan ahead if you're watching live or set your DVR accordingly if you're not ...

Welcome back to Umbrella Talk! We kick off our 2009 Umbrella Talk series with playwright and actor Kate Hewlett. Kate's play Humans Anonymous is playing this week at Toronto's Next Stage Festival. Kate tells us what theatrical project she's dying to write next, who she'd like the academics to compare her to 50 years from now and who inspires her---a person who has motivation, courage and is open to change.

A little more about Kate Hewlett

Kate, a National Theatre School and Queens University graduate, is an actor and a playwright. Her plays include Humans Anonymous and The Swearing Jar. Kate was also a member of Tarragon Theatre's Playwrights unit in 2007 and is an associate artist with Unspun Theatre. Selectedtheatre acting credits include Noble Parasites, Don't Wake Me, Head-Smashed-In and Unity (1918). Selected television and film acting credits include Stargate: Atlantis, Last New Year (feature), Psych and A Dog's Breakfast (feature).

A brief excerpt:

Umbrella Talk with Kate Hewlett

How do you deal with praise? With criticism?

After my first episode of Stargate Atlantis aired (I was a guest star in a few episodes) I spent hours -- literally, hours -- reading all of the online comments about my performance. The Stargate fans are loyal and lovely, so it took a long time to find a really cruel one, but when I did...I was finally able to stop looking. I needed to read the worst possible criticism in order to get over my fear of it. Now, I am less affected by reviews, praise, criticism or feedback. The most important thing is the audience reaction, and the experience itself. Reviews are only important because they affect audience turnout.

January 12, 2009 (Episodes)After a few years of mysterious absence, ‘Enemy At The Gate’ sees the surprise return of a much-loved character. Actor Colin Cunningham discusses the reappearance of Major Paul Davis.

A brief excerpt:

... Then, however, Cunningham got the call asking whether he’d be willing to return to the SGC once again – this time for a role in Atlantis. And this time, he’d actually have to deliver a few lines… which was easier said than done after several years of not playing the character.

“That was pretty cool,” he says. “I simply got a call to come out and play – though I will say that I was incredibly nervous. I don't know why, I honestly can't say. But I was terrified. I couldn't remember my lines, and I worked on them for days! It was a bit stressful.”

Despite the slightly tough nature of the experience, Cunningham says he’d love to see Major Davis return again, in any of the Stargate series, and that he’d always reprise the role if he was available when asked ...